Before the Emergence of Critical Citizens: Economic Development and Political Trust in China

Wang, Zhengxu

Political trust is central in the study of political regimes. It is widely seen as reflecting a regime's perceived legitimacy. In new democracies, a high level of political trust may facilitate the consolidation process, while a lack of it may contribute to political instability or a return to authoritarianism. In an authoritarian regime, an accurate measurement of the public's trust in government, provides an indication of how strongly the regime is holding its grip among the public...